California’s low carbon fuel standard upheld in court

California has not violated interstate commerce laws with its regulations on fuels based on carbon production, ruled a federal appeals court Sept. 18.

The three-judge court ruled 2-1 to vacate a ruling by the lower court that had placed an injunction on the California Air Resources Board’s low Carbon Fuel Standard program. The lower court had ruled that the program, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, put a heavy burden on interstate commerce — one that outweighed the local benefits from its implementation, the court said.

However, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last week overturned that ruling, and the program will continue.